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Where to Learn What You Don’t Know
- Mandy S.
- May 20
- 3 min read
Reliable Resources for Entrepreneurs Who Don’t Have Time (or Money) for an MBA
Starting a business often begins with a healthy dose of chaos and caffeine. But somewhere between registering your LLC and figuring out what SEO actually stands for, you’ll realize: there’s a lot you don’t know.
Whether you’re bootstrapping your startup or moonlighting with a side hustle, your time and funds are limited—but your need for reliable knowledge is not. The good news? There’s a sprawling universe of affordable (and often free) business education resources that can help fill the gaps in marketing, legal, finance, leadership, and more—without requiring you to remortgage your house for an MBA.
📊 According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Small Business Administration, 33% of small business owners say they lack access to education on finance and operations—yet 82% believe such training would have helped them avoid costly mistakes.
Top Free (and Low-Cost) Business Courses
Harvard Business School’s “Entrepreneurship Essentials”
While not free, this course on the Harvard Online platform is priced at a reasonable $1,050 and is one of the most comprehensive and accessible Ivy League options. It covers entrepreneurial strategy, financing, and market testing. For a lighter (and free) option, check out the Harvard Digital Initiative.
If you're looking for credentials from top universities, both Coursera and edX offer many free business courses with optional paid certificates. Popular picks include the University of Pennsylvania’s “Introduction to Marketing” and MIT’s “The Science of Happiness at Work.”
Run by the U.S. Small Business Administration, this site includes straightforward courses on business plans, funding options, and how to comply with regulations. The content is especially helpful for new founders in regulated industries.
Google’s platform offers solid, self-paced courses on topics like digital marketing, data analytics, and career development. The “Fundamentals of Digital Marketing” course is certified by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe.
Podcasts That Punch Above Their Weight
NPR’s quick-hit podcast offers data-backed insights on economic trends, with a quirky tone and daily episodes under 10 minutes.
Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn) interviews founders like Sara Blakely, Brian Chesky, and even Barack Obama. The focus is on how startups scale—and when they shouldn't.
This longform podcast by Farnam Street founder Shane Parrish blends leadership, decision-making, and behavioral psychology. It’s slow and dense, but highly worthwhile.
Newsletters You Should Actually Open
Morning Brew (and Emerging Tech Brew)
Short, smart business updates with a dash of humor. The main newsletter is great for staying current; Emerging Tech Brew is perfect for founders in AI, SaaS, and biotech.
Acquired by HubSpot, The Hustle blends startup stories with market trends and memes—ideal for busy entrepreneurs who want more than dry headlines.
Former VC-turned-analyst Benedict Evans provides deep tech and business analysis with great visuals. Especially useful for founders in digital products or SaaS.
There is no one path to business education, and you don’t need an MBA to build something meaningful. But avoiding free and low-cost education altogether? That’s the most expensive mistake of all.
As Reid Hoffman once said, “An entrepreneur is someone who will jump off a cliff and assemble an airplane on the way down.” With the right learning resources, at least you’ll have instructions for the engine.
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